5 Best VR Goggles for 2017

Are you searching a good VR headset that would be perfect for your aims and would give you the best experiences?

As there are lots of products on the market, and perhaps you lack the time or patience to choose the best model, finding the one that suits you can be a difficult task. Or maybe you don’t know where to find them, but you still need a good headset to make your games extra joyful and you want the perfect VR experience. No worries, we have done the research work for you and checked the ratings to find the 5 best VR googles.

Everyone who uses VR headsets wants the best virtual reality feeling, therefore, there is a great demand for these products. In the last 12 months, several new, high-end devices have been introduced on the market, including Sony PlayStation VR, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Google Daydream View and Samsung Gear VR (2017 edition).

In this article you will find reviews about these headsets and some short summarizing descriptions, so that you can easily decide which one to buy and be sure you made the right choice.

Now without a further ado keep reading to find out more about the top 5 VR headsets.

Sony PlayStation VR

When speaking about Sony PlayStation VR, we must say that their previous headsets were expensive, and what’s more, they needed expensive gaming consoles in order to be able to run. This product is completely different as it is much cheaper and only a PS4 console is required for it. But, there is a problem with this one as well – if you don’t have a PlayStation Camera, you will need to buy one.

This system can be bought in two varieties: the first one is the basic PlayStation VR package, including PS VR system, cabling and headphones, all for around $400. The second one, is a PlayStation Move Motion Controller and a copy of PlayStation VR Worlds, for around $500. The PlayStation VR demo disc can be found in both packages.

To fully experience, Sony’s virtual reality, you will need a PlayStation VR unit, a PlayStation Camera, a PS4, a PS4 DualShock 4 controller, and some space. It will take only a couple of minutes to set up the unit. This system produces two images at the same time, and sends them to the headset. So, now it is up to you to try it out and let us know is it worth the price.

HTC Vive

Without a shadow of a doubt this is the most expensive VR headset on the market, with a price tag of some $800. HTC Vive is very comfortable to wear, and you can avoid skin-irritations with its memory foam around the edge when you wear it. Furthermore, it comes with two handheld controllers, that are actually the Xbox one controllers.

However, this headset has a disadvantage as well, as it is not wireless, but wired – so it’s not an ideal situation for the gamers who like to get a little jumpy around the house while playing as they can get tangled in the cables and fall down.

The package includes a headset, motion controllers, and external sensors – so you can create a virtual room to play in. It’s an extremely amazing system if you have a powerful PC for it. Vive looks the same as Vive Pre, the version I. The two controllers included, are about 8.5 inches long, and packed with positioning and motion sensors.

Setting up HTC Vive is not an easy and fast task, as it has multiple parts. Luckily, you can find a setup software in the package, and it gives you clear instructions how to set it up the right way. It takes about 20 minutes to download all the necessary things, including software, to get started. Seems like the price is justified as this one turned out to be one of the most wanted models on the market so far.

Oculus Rift

Oculus Rift is a very good and smart device for its nearly $500 price. It is one of the most famous headsets nowadays, and the best-looking one. Oculus headset is understated and simple. The Oculus Touch motion controllers have been added to the Rift package recently, (they were originally an optional addition).

The Oculus Remote is a small pad with Back, Menu, Up/Down on it. Setting it up is an easy task. The Oculus setup software needs to be downloaded on our PC and it will then give you clear instructions what and how to do. At first, you need to plug the sensors and headset to the PC, for which you will use three USB ports and an HDMI. When you get these steps finished, all you have to do is to dive into the world of Oculus software.
Additionally you can load apps from various unidentified sources, so you can use it with SteamVR, like HTC Vive. The Oculus Rift is really worth its price, as it adds value to comfort.

Google Daydream View

This headset is an extremely good choice if you want to transform your Android phone into a spectacular virtual reality headset. For just under $50, we think that this is a great deal to get into the virtual reality world.

As for its comfort and design, we can say it is very comfortable, and looks good, and everyone who had tried it so far will agree with us. The eyeglasses are also comfortable, but they leave a red line on your face after using them, or maybe we just had a bigger than average, gamer head…

Its remote control is a very small one, connects via Bluetooth, and has only two buttons – a clickable top track pad and a volume rocker. When it comes to downloading games and apps for Google Daydream View, it is a rather simple process, and it also can provide 360-degree photo and video experience.

The disadvantage is that you need to slow down after 20 minutes of hard gameplay as it does heat up, and you will also find that the performance drops with battery life. The Google Daydream View is for everyday consumers, and it is really recommended to buy if you have a Google Pixel phone. But, you need to know that you should turn off the lights in your room because the light can leak from the sides.

Samsung Gear VR (2017)

This is one of the most affordable high-end VR headsets, as it costs just under $100. It has a large app library, and its new remote is comfortable now and very easy to use. The new Gear VR updates are available so you can use older phones with Gear VR headsets. Naturally, it needs a Samsung phone, so we can consider it as a disadvantage.

However, we found some new things in the latest version. Now, the motion controller is wireless, the Gear VR software is revamped, and it also fits the S8 and S8 Plus. The big upside to this system is that, if you already have a Gear VR you don’t need to buy the new one, it is enough if you just buy a new remote. It also works with wired headphones. It is recommended as a starter kit too, because it’s cheaper than the other VR headsets, easy to move around and you can have a great VR experience when using it.

Related Posts

About The Author

Zsuzsana P. is from Hungary, Europe. She graduated as a Theologian and Social Pedagogue, but in her free time, she loves having a cup of coffee under a big tree in her backyard, and writing about the latest tech news and gadgets. She currently blogs for Techinsider and there you can see some of here latest posts about technology.